But here’s one you may not have heard, and it comes from what we like to think of as a pretty reliable source...

Karen Gillan has revealed that her trademark long red locks were donated to Star Wars after she had them shorn off to play Marvel’s bald-headed Guardians of the Galaxy character Nebula.

“They made my hair into the most incredible well-made wig and they gave it to the Star Wars people,” Gillan told Collider. “It’s just so funny to think that my hair is made into a wig, next to all these Star Wars monster heads in a warehouse."

Does that mean Gillan’s hair will play a starring role in JJ Abrams’s sequel? Not necessarily – there are bound to be other high-profile barnets in the running – but in the absence of an official statement, we’d certainly keep a look out for a fiery-headed character when the film finally hits cinemas in December 2015.